Real Madrid summer signing once called Barcelona his ‘other favourite team’ – Old video resurfaces

It seems increasingly certain that Trent Alexander-Arnold will be a Real Madrid player next season, with reports strongly indicating that the Liverpool right-back has agreed to a move to the Santiago Bernabeu. 

However, while he prepares to don the white of Madrid, it’s worth remembering that the England international once openly admitted his admiration for Barcelona.

His old interview resurfaces

In an interview from 2021, Alexander-Arnold was asked which club he identified with beyond Liverpool, and his response was eye-opening: FC Barcelona.

“My other favorite team is Barça. I think they have the same values as Liverpool. They bring a lot of players up from the youth academy. 

“I grew up watching them. Messi and that special team with Iniesta, Xavi, Henry, Eto’o… All of them… It was something special,” he said at the time.

🤯 ALEXANDER-ARNOLD, ‘MEDIO CULÉ’.

‼️ “Mi otro equipo favorito es el Barça”.

🗞️ La entrevista del lateral en 2021 que se ha hecho viral. pic.twitter.com/geFGEdLljq

— El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) October 9, 2024

This revelation, made years before his expected move to Madrid, now adds an interesting twist to his impending arrival in Spain. 

Despite choosing Real Madrid for the next stage of his career, Alexander-Arnold’s words from the past suggest that his heart once leaned towards the Blaugrana.

Battle of heart and mind?

With his Liverpool contract set to expire on June 30, he has already turned down a renewal offer from the Reds. 

His decision to move to Madrid will see him reunite with his close friend Jude Bellingham, but for Barcelona fans, his past admiration for the Blaugrana will always be a curious footnote in his journey.

While Alexander-Arnold’s future may lie in Madrid, his past words serve as a reminder that the allure of Barcelona remains undeniable—even for those who ultimately choose to wear the colours of their greatest rivals.

Perhaps, deep down, Alexander-Arnold knows that some part of him once resonated with Barcelona’s footballing identity. 

And in another timeline, maybe, just maybe, he could have been walking out at the Spotify Camp Nou instead of the Bernabeu.